Turkish jets strike Kurd rebels in Iraq: military source

English: Members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (Kurdish Partiya Karkerên, PKK) in Kurdistant/Iraq Kurdî / كوردی: Gerîlayên Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê (PKK) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Turkey sent jets across its border with Iraq to strike separatists from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a local military source said Thursday.
The jets bombed 12 targets in the Kandil Mountains in the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq on Wednesday, the source told AFP without providing any casualty figures.

Pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency confirmed the raid, saying it targeted two villages and destroyed many farms and orchards.

The raid comes amid nascent peace talks between Ankara and PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is serving a life sentence in prison.

Turkey hopes the talks will yield a ceasefire and eventually bring an end to the almost three-decade Kurdish insurgency for self-rule in the southeast.

Last month, the Turkish army said it killed 14 rebels in the southeastern city of Hakkari as they were preparing to ambush a border post. A Turkish soldier was also killed in the ensuing shootout.

Ankara says the rebels use their hideouts in northern Iraq, where the PKK command is also located, to infiltrate Turkey for hit-and-run attacks on security forces.

Around 45,000 people are believed to have been killed in 29 years of fighting between Turkish security forces and the PKK, which took up arms in 1984.

from AL ARABIYA
Last Updated: Thu Feb 21, 2013 21:36 pm (KSA) 18:36 pm (GMT)

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French, Mali Troops in Gao Push Out Islamist Rebels

Malian soldiers fire a machine gun in Gao, February 21, 2013.

France's defense minister says that Malian and French troops have pushed out Islamist rebels who temporarily seized the town hall and mayor's residence in the city of Gao in northern Mali.

Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters Thursday in Brussels that five Islamists were killed in the fighting and that the situation is back to normal.

New clashes between the militants and government troops supported by French forces erupted Wednesday in Gao, which was liberated last month after an occupation by Islamist insurgents.  Reports say that the Islamists had returned to Gao overnight and took control of some government buildings.

A correspondent told VOA that heavily armed Islamist militants took up positions in the mayor's office.  He said the office was set on fire during fighting that ensued, along with the courthouse and part of a nearby market.

Malian officials and militants say the militants are part of the Islamist group known as MUJAO, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa. 

A Malian Defense Ministry spokesman told VOA that while Gao was liberated last month, "pockets of insecurity" remained in the city.

In another incident, a car bomb exploded near a military base in the northern city of Kidal, killing the bomber and one civilian.  The base was being used by French and Chadian forces.

In January, French troops entered Mali, a former French colony, at the request of the Bamako government to help drive back Islamist militants who had seized northern cities and were moving toward the capital.

After a series of swift military advances in Mali, France said its forces were planning to hand over military operations to the Malian army and an African force.  French officials have also urged the United Nations to establish a peacekeeping mission in Mali.

from VOA News
February 21, 2013

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• French, Mali Troops in Gao Push Out Islamist Rebels (voanews.com)
• Malian and French troops battle Islamists in northern Mali - euronews (euronews.com)

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Feb. 22., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force killed a Taliban improvised explosive device expert, Zekeria, during a security operation in Chahar Darah district, Kunduz province, Feb. 21.

Zekeria’s IEDs were used to attack Afghan and coalition forces. His death will significantly degrade the ability of insurgents to conduct attacks in Charhar Darah district.

During the operation, the security force observed Zekeria conducting insurgent activity. The security force engaged the insurgent with a precision strike, killing him.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

East

Afghan and coalition forces confirmed today the death of a Taliban leader, Habib, during an operation in Charkh district, Logar province, Feb. 20. Habib was responsible for weapons facilitation in Charkh district. He also was instrumental in planning attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force engaged the insurgent with a precision strike, killing him.

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Feb. 22., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed one insurgent, detained six suspected insurgents, located one weapons cache and cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 21.

Additionally, Afghan forces discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Kunar province Feb. 20, according to late reports.

Wardak province
Afghan National Security Forces killed one insurgent during an engagement in Sayed Abad district.

Nangarhar province
Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Bati Kot district. The cache contained one ton of homemade explosives.

Logar province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Pul-e Alam district.

Nuristan province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Nugaram district.

Laghman province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Mehtar Lam district.

Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces detained five suspected insurgents in Khowst district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Afghan and coalition forces detained one suspected insurgent in Terezayi district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Kunar province
Afghan National Security Forces discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Sar Kani District Feb. 20, according to late reports. The cache contained 200 kilograms of nitrogen fertilizer, four small arms rifles and four kilograms of opium.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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Police, rebels suffer causalities in Parwan clash

CHARIKAR (PAN): One policeman was killed and six others were wounded during a clash with militants in the Siah Gird district of central Parwan province, an official said on Thursday.                                   

The incident took place on Wednesday night when the insurgents stormed a police check-post in the area. One rebel was killed and two others were wounded in the ensuing clash that lasted an hour.

Senior district official, Haji Mohammad Aziz, told Pajhwok Afghan News the assailants managed to take away their dead and wounded colleagues.

Civil Hospital Director Dr. Mohammad Qasim Saeedi confirmed receiving six wounded people. They were in stable condition, he said.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that seven policemen were killed, two wounded and another two captured alive. Only one rebel was wounded in attack, he added.

from Pajhwok
By Farid Tanha Feb 21, 2013 - 14:46

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Car Bomb Kills 31 in Syrian Capital

A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrians carrying an injured man after a powerful car bomb exploded near the headquarters of Syria's ruling Ba'ath party in the center of Damascus, February 21, 2013.

Syrian activists say at least 31 people have been killed in a car bombing near the headquarters of the country's ruling Ba'ath Party in central Damascus.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday most of the dead were civilians.

Syrian state media called the blast a "terrorist bombing" that struck a densely populated area near the al-Mazraa neighborhood.

Russian news agencies also said the bombing blew out windows at the Russian embassy.

Meanwhile, the Syrian opposition is holding a meeting Thursday in Cairo to discuss an initiative to hold peace talks with President Bashar al-Assad's government.

On Wednesday, Syrian activists said rebels shot down a warplane outside Damascus, shortly after an airstrike killed at least 20 people in the same area.

Amateur video circulated by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights showed a warplane firing rockets and then plummeting to the ground in Hamouriya after apparently being hit by rebel machine gun fire.  The shoot-down could not be independently verified.

from VOA News
February 21, 2013

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• Car Bomb Kills 31 in Syrian Capital (voanews.com)

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Fighting in Gao, Car Bomb in Kidal, Mali Conflict Continues

Heavy fighting has broken out in the centre of Gao, the largest town in northern Mali. A car bomb in the northern Mali town of Kidal has killed one person and injured another, according to a journalist at the scene.

Malian troops were fighting Islamists in Gao on Thursday.

The clashes left the main courthouse in flames.

Troops from Niger were the first to respond after heavy weapons fire was heard at at least two entries to the town overnight.

By midday Thursday the Malian army was battling what one military source said was a group of around 40 insurgents.

The source said at least three rebels had already been killed in the fighting.

Rebel fighters tried to carry out suicide attacks in the city, in one case successfully, on 8-10 February.

One person was killed and another injured by the Kidal bomb, according to a journalist in the town speaking to the Reuters news agency.

Other witnesses told the AFP agency that two civilians had been injured.

The blast was within a kilometre of the camp where French and Malian soldiers have been stationed since they arrived in the town on 29 January, following its takeover by dissident Islamists and Tuareg separatists from Al Qaida-linked armed groups.

A French soldier was killed on Tuesday in fighting in the Ifoghas mountains, north of Kidal, where the hardline Islamists have taken refuge. About 20 rebels were also killed, according to the French military.

from RFi
Article published the Thursday 21 February 2013
---

Fighting had first erupted overnight in Gao, where a military official and witnesses reported heavy gunfire around two main entrances to the main city in the north of the country.

"Our forces are currently confronting the jihadists near the Gao townhouse. They have infiltrated the city and we are currently retaliating," Amadou Diarra, a Malian army captain, told AFP in Bamako.

Troops from Niger were the first to respond to the Islamist presence in Gao overnight but by midday Thursday it was the Malian army battling what one military source said was a group of around 40 insurgents.

The source said at least three rebels had already been killed in the fighting, which involved heavy artillery fire and left the streets of Gao -- the most populous city in northern Mali -- largely deserted.

French forces wrested Gao back from the Al Qaeda-linked rebels who had controlled the city since April 2012 within two weeks of Paris' intervention in the former colony.

But Islamist rebels who redeployed on the outskirts of Gao have switched to guerrilla tactics and the city saw Mali's first ever suicide attacks two weeks ago, followed by street fighting. 

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French Hostages Found Free in Nigeria, Reports

English: Political map of the 36 States of Nigeria (English) Deutsch: politische Karte Nigerias (Englisch) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The French family of seven kidnapped in northern Cameroon have been found abandoned in a house in Nigeria. Paris has confirmed that they have been freed by the kidnappers.
The seven, an expatriate employee of GDF Suez, his wife, four children and an uncle, have been found in a house in the Nigerian town of Dikwa, the French BFMTV television channel reported Thursday morning.

Junior French government minister Kader Arif confirmed the news shortly afterwards but then withdrew his statement.

A Cameroonian military source had already told news agencies that the hostages were freed.

They appear to have been left their by their captors, who may have had second thoughts about holding children hostage, according to some analysts.

They are now in the hands of the Nigerian authorities.

The French foreign minister declared itself astonished by the news and said it could not confirm the report at 10.15 am Thursday and the presidency could not confirm, either.
Nigeria
Nine Injured As Plateau Speaker Escapes Assassination

It was by sheer providence that the Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Clark Dabwan, on Tuesday … see more »

Read or Listen to this story on the RFI website.

from allAfrica/RFi
21 February 2013

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Feb. 21., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested six insurgents during an operation in search of an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in Kunduz district, Kunduz province, today.

The leader is allegedly instrumental in manufacturing, procuring and distributing improvised explosive devices for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the province.

The security force also seized a shotgun as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout
Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition security force killed a Taliban leader, Abdul Qahar, and one other insurgent during an operation in Qal'ah-ye Zal district, Kunduz province, yesterday. Abdul Qahar was responsible for the coordination of attacks against coalition forces and the planning and acquisition of weapons. The security force conducted a precision strike, killing him and the other insurgent.

East

During an operation in Charkh district, Logar province, yesterday, Afghan and coalition forces killed an insurgent they observed conducting nefarious activity. The security force engaged the insurgent with a precision strike, killing him.

Afghan and coalition forces confirmed today the death of a Taliban leader, Ikleel, during a security operation in Charkh district, Logar province, yesterday. Ikleel, also known as Shakeel, was responsible for distributing weapons to insurgent forces in Logar province. He also planned and executed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also seized a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, multiple RPG rounds, multiple AK-47 assault rifles and one machine gun as a result of this operation.

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Feb. 21., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained one suspected insurgent, located one weapons cache and cleared one improvised explosive device during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 20.

Logar province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Pul-e Alam district.

Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Spera district. The cache contained two bags of ammonium nitrate.

Nangarhar province
Afghan National Security Forces detained one suspected insurgent during an operation in Khugyani district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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